The 2015 Progressive Music Awards were held last night at the impressive Underglobe venue, situated below Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. For the fourth successive year Orange Amplification was the main sponsor of the awards, which were hosted by TV presenter Matthew Wright.
Last year’s Prog God Award winner Peter Gabriel presented the 2015 award, sponsored by Orange Amplification, to Tony Banks. As keyboardist with Genesis, one of the most influential and best selling progressive rock bands, he co-wrote and performed on fifteen of their albums. In addition, Tony has also released five solo albums.
Orange would like to congratulate their Ambassadors, Heights who won the Limelight Award for best up and coming band and previous Limelight recipients Purson, winners of the Vanguard Award for acts that deserve wider recognition.
The evening was completed by the announcement that the Official Charts Company (OCC) will publish the very first monthly Official Progressive Albums Chart Top 30, which will appear in Prog Magazine next week. It will feature classic and new prog bands and the first top slot was announced as Tame Impala’s album ‘Currents’. Rick Wakeman, former Yes keyboardist, commented, “It’s only 45 years too late, but better late than never.”